FAQs

Hi, I’m Katie! I grew up in the Southwestern Chicago suburbs and have always loved dogs. Before my husband and I decided to open up our own Dog Training Elite, I was a high school science teacher in the Chicago suburbs. We have grown our family in the area and love the community! We have always had dogs, and love to be out with our pups. Our dogs are a major part of our family, and really complete us with the love and companionship they provide. There are so many dog friendly areas in Chicagoland, and we love to bring the whole family when we go out. I have loved teaching and coaching, and look forward to helping improve families' lives with their dogs.

Hi, I’m Tim. I grew up in the Southwestern Chicago Suburbs, and love the community. Before my wife and I decided to open our own Dog Training Elite, I was an educator in the Chicago suburbs. Dogs provide us with love, companionship, and so many amazing services. Our family, 3 kids, and 2 dogs, loves going out and doing all sorts of different activities together. I look forward to helping you create a better connection with your dog and help to provide our community with some wonderful pets and service dogs.

My path to dog training wasn’t the traditional one; I spent the earlier part of my career in the corporate world of hospitality and property management. That experience taught me the value of professional consistency and, most importantly, how to support people through complex situations. However, it wasn't until I became a client at Dog Training Elite with my own dog, Scotch, that I realized where my true calling lived.

Having sat on the other side of the evaluation table, I have a unique perspective on the journey my clients are taking. I understand the deep bond we have with our dogs, but I also know the challenge of making the shift from being just a 'dog parent' to being a confident leader. My own experience with Scotch at our Utah location showed me how life-changing it is when that leadership finally clicks, and it’s what inspired me to leave the corporate world to help others find that same breakthrough.

In my roles handling discovery calls, evaluations, and group classes, I draw on my management background to ensure every owner has a structured and professional experience. I believe that training is about providing the framework you need to feel empowered and in control.

When I’m not at the facility, I’m almost always outdoors—whether it’s camping, hiking, or skiing. I’m dedicated to helping you build the kind of relationship with your dog that allows you to enjoy those same kinds of adventures with confidence.

I grew up with dogs and have always loved animals, but my passion for dogs developed when I  took a summer job during college as a dog daycare and boarding attendant. I loved spending time with the dogs and getting to know their personalities and breed characteristics, but I was often frustrated by their lack of obedience and manners. This led me to pursue a career in dog training at the Tom Rose School for Professional Dog Trainers (TRS) after graduating from college. At TRS, I trained a malinois puppy and my personal dog, a small munsterlander, in competitive obedience, agility, tracking, scent detection, and the AKC’s CGC test. After graduating from TRS, I moved to Illinois and took a job as a trainer at a dog daycare facility where I worked for 3 years before I found Dog Training Elite. I’ve enjoyed helping clients understand their dogs better, and I’ve learned so much from the various dogs, clients, and other trainers I’ve worked with. I truly look forward to learning more as my career progresses.

In my free time, I love being outside, trying new foods, working and pheasant hunting with my dog Dreya, and spending time with friends and family.

Dogs have been my passion for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been fascinated by how different dogs think, learn, and communicate. That curiosity turned into a career I truly love. I earned my dog training certification through Penn Foster and am also certified through the American Kennel Club as a Dog Fitness Instructor, which means I focus not just on training behavior, but also on building strong, confident dogs from the inside out.

At home, I have two Pitbull mixes, Enzo and Riddick, who keep me on my toes and constantly inspire me to keep learning. Living with high-energy, powerful breeds has taught me the importance of structure, consistency, and clear communication.

I believe training should strengthen the bond between dogs and their humans. It’s not just about obedience, it’s about creating teamwork, trust, and a dog you genuinely enjoy living life with.

When I’m not training, you’ll probably find me at the gym, exploring new adventures with my dogs, or spending time with my family.